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If you’re looking to clean carpeted areas, an upright vacuum cleaner works best.
These types of vacuum cleaners feature a motorized beater brush for loosening dust particles before the powerful suction power removes the loose dirt and grime from your carpet.
What’s more, upright vacuum cleaners can also remove dirt and dust particles from hardwood floors. As such, they are versatile cleaning machines.
Besides, they include cleaning accessories such as a dusting brush for removing dust particles on above-floor surfaces, such as the shelf. Therefore, an upright vacuum cleaner is ideal for any home.
But the market has plenty of upright vacuum cleaners, and not all of them are best for you. As such, you want to keep a closer eye on only the best upright vacuum cleaners.
We’ve rounded up some of the brands with the best performances. We’ve also included a guide to help you pick the best unit from a few options you might have. So, be sure to read on for more information!
What Are Some of The Best Upright Vacuums to Buy?
| Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner | Product Information | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
Top | Shark SV1106 Navigator Freestyle Upright Bagless Cordless Stick Vacuum for Carpet, Hard Floor and Pet with XL Dust Cup and 2-Speed Brushroll, White/Grey | Check Price |
Top | Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Tempo Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA Media Filter, For Carpet and Hard Floor, UH30301, Blue | Check Price |
Top | Shark NV356E S2 Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Pet Power Brush and Crevice Tool, White/Silver | Check Price |
Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Cordless Bagless Vacuum for Carpet
- Portable, powerful and versatile, at only 7.5 lbs.
- Optimized for both carpet and hard floors, and provides premium pet hair pickup throughout the home.
- Easy-to-empty .64 quart dust cup for extended cleaning without interruption.
- Charger doubles as storage block, and can charge in 4 hours.
- Shark Freestyle Cordless Vacuum & Precision Charger.
This upright vacuum cleaner boasts a cordless design that makes it more portable. The battery pack is powerful to allow you to clean your carpet and hard floor for an hour straight.
Due to this impressive battery pack, your vacuum cleaner churns out 11.5 Amps, translating to sufficient suction power. As a result, your cleaning machine leaves no speck of dust behind after cleaning your surfaces.
The cordless performance also contributes to the lightweight design. To be precise, your vacuum cleaner only weighs 7.5 pounds. As such, this upright vacuum cleaner is more portable and certainly easier to handle than many cleaning machines on the market.
So, if you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight upright vacuum with usage convenience, don’t look any further.
The vacuum cleaner features a 2-speed brush roll. Whether you’re looking to clean your high pile carpeting or you want your hard floor to be dust-free, you can select the correct cleaning speed for your surface.
Also, this upright vacuum cleaner picks up pet hair from all surfaces. You only need to choose the correct cleaning speed. As such, this is a multi surface vacuum cleaner.
The filtration performance is also quite impressive. And if the filter’s efficiency reduces, you can wash your filter since it is washable. And this will restore efficient filtration performance.
The 0.64-quart dust cup is also sufficient to collect dust particles throughout the cleaning performance. The dust cup doesn’t fill up when you’re halfway through, meaning you will get consistent, powerful suction the entire cleaning time.
However, the battery takes 4 hours to charge. So, consider investing in a spare battery pack. But the charging dock doubles as a storage dock for hassle-free storage after use.
Therefore, this upright vacuum cleaner makes up for its flaws with excellent performance, making it another excellent model to buy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful suction. | It includes no LED lights. |
| 2-speed brush roll. | The battery takes 4 hours to charge. |
| Multi-surface cleaning performance. | |
| Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner Reviews |
Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Tempo Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Traps in 99.7% of dirt, dust, pollen, and allergens down to 0.3 microns so you can enjoy cleaner, fresher air
- Features 5 floor height adjustment settings so that you can move between hard floors and deep carpets with ease
- The 30 foot cord allows you to go room-to-room without the hassle of unplugging
This Hoover WindTunnel vacuum cleaner is corded, and it features a 30-ft power cord for its electrical energy needs. Since corded upright vacuums have a steady power supply, you can expect them to outrun cordless models.
As such, this is a bagged vacuum cleaner for deep cleaning your residential space.
One incredible feature of this upright vacuum cleaner is the WindTunnel Technology. As a result, the vacuum cleaner creates powerful suction channels for lifting away any dust particles from the cleaned surfaces.
Even deeply embedded dust particles don’t stand a chance.
Besides boasting powerful suction power, this upright vacuum cleaner features HEPA Media Filter.
Unlike most filters, this vacuum’s filter is highly efficient, trapping 99.97% of dust particles, even the dust particles that are 0.3 microns in size! This feature makes the vacuum cleaner one of the best cleaning machines for allergic-free cleaning performance.
The floor cleaning head has a 5-position height adjustment. As such, it is a versatile cleaning machine for low and high pile carpets. Also, you can use it to clean other surfaces such as tile and hardwood floors.
Besides cleaning the floor, this unit also cleans tight spaces as it includes a crevice tool. Also, you get a pet tool for cleaning all the messes after your pet.
As if that’s not impressive enough, your vacuum cleaner also includes a dusting brush. And you will use this particular accessory to clean areas high up the wall. And in the end, your home will be dust-free.
Many cordless sticks don’t show if the dust cup is full. But this model lets you know when to empty the dust cup, thanks to the Bag Check Indicator.
Since it is a versatile vacuum cleaner that’s feature-rich, it is another excellent upright vacuum cleaner to buy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| WindTunnel Technology for impressive suction. | The warranty is limited. |
| Highly efficient HEPA Media Filter. | No cord management. |
| 30-ft power cord maximum reach. | |
| Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner Reviews |
Shark NV356E S2 Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum
- Dust cup capacity 2.2 quarts; Lift away; Press a button to lift the canister away and easily clean hard to reach areas
- Anti-allergen complete seal technology plus a HEPA filter; Traps 99.9 percent of dust and allergens inside the vacuum
- Powerful and lightweight; Portable and versatile at 13.7 pounds
This upright vacuum cleaner weighs 13.7 pounds, making it one of the lightest vacuum cleaners on the market. Since lighter vacuums are easier to maneuver, you can expect to improve the cleaning results if you invest in this vacuum cleaner.
What’s more, your cleaning machine boasts Advanced Swivel Steering for moving around furniture and sofa legs precisely for improved cleaning performance.
Aside from this excellent swivel steering, the vacuum cleaner features an XL dust cup. To be precise, the dust cup is 2.2-quart large, enough to collect dust particles throughout the cleaning process without filling up.
As such, the vacuum cleaner maintains its incredible suction power throughout.
The powerful suction power tackles ground-in dirt on carpets and hard floors. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner boasts multi-surface cleaning performance, making it ideal for any home.
You can also lift the machine away from the floor cleaning head to convert it into one of the most efficient handheld vacuums.
The wand also detaches and extends by up to 10 feet to reach your ceiling. When using it as a handheld vacuum, you will use the included cleaning accessories to clean above-floor surfaces.
These accessories include upholstery tools for your furniture, a crevice tool for tight spaces, and a Pet Power Brush for removing pet messes on the floor.
Whether you’re cleaning stairs or the floor, this upright vacuum cleaner has the necessary cleaning accessory for the task at hand.
Its impressive versatility puts robot vacuums to shame while rivaling the performance of high-end vacuums at an affordable price point. Therefore, it is one of the best upright vacuum cleaners to buy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Anti-allergen Hepa filter. | It is not a cordless upright vacuum. |
| 2-quart dust cup. | The warranty is limited. |
| Multi-surface cleaning performance. | |
| Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner Reviews |
How Do You Buy the Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner?
Finding the best upright vacuum cleaner on the market is essential. Even if you’re looking to buy a canister vacuum cleaner, you will only focus on the best vacuum cleaner model.
So, buying an upright vacuum cleaner follows the same principle. But you will consider a few features to buy the best upright vacuum cleaner. And these features include the following:
Decide Between Corded and Cordless Vacuums
Upright vacuums need electrical energy to function. Most of the time, this electrical energy comes from a wall outlet via a power cord. But your upright vacuum cleaner could also use battery energy to function.
So, what does this mean? It means you have to choose between corded and cordless upright vacuum cleaners. These two power supply designs have their upsides and downsides. So, you will have to select the one that meets your needs best.
A corded vacuum cleaner boasts unlimited run time and is the best choice for deep cleaning tasks. But its corded power supply cuts back on portability.
Also, the power cord restricts the maximum reach, depending on its length. On the other hand, a cordless design has unlimited reach but limited run time. Also, a cordless vacuum is more portable.
If you’re looking to deep clean your residential space but don’t mind restrictive portability, a corded upright vacuum cleaner is the best option.
But if you’re looking for something that’s more effortless to move across the room, a cordless vacuum cleaner is your best option. So, you have a tough decision to make.
The Cleaning Power
After deciding on a corded or cordless upright vacuum, you want to ensure it cleans with sufficient power. The cleaning power is a crucial factor to consider.
A vacuum cleaner with more cleaning power cleans better, and that’s why you have to pick powerful upright vacuum cleaners.
But manufacturers usually express the cleaning power in kilopascals (kPa). But they could also express this feature in cubic feet per minute (CFM), Air Watts (AW), or Amps (A).
So, if you see digits with any of these words accompanying them in the product’s specification, that is the cleaning or suction power.
When selecting a powerful upright vacuum cleaner, you want to pick one with at least 15 kPa. If the suction power is in CFM, look for 100 CFM or more for unmatched cleaning power.
Also, settle on at least 100 AW. But if the cleaning power is in Amps (A), 10 Amps or more is ideal. Therefore, look for exceptional cleaning power and pick the most powerful upright vacuum cleaner.
Filtration Efficiency
Air filters are a crucial component of any vacuum cleaner, including an upright vacuum. They filter out dirt, dust particles, and allergens from the air escaping via an exhaust port.
As a result, the vacuum cleaner will only blow out clean, unpolluted air into your living space. Since the air filter is such a big deal, you want to consider it before buying an upright vacuum cleaner.
Hepa filter is 99.99% efficient, trapping even the tiniest dust particles 0.3 microns in size. Since it is a highly efficient filter, a Hepa filter is best for upright vacuum cleaners.
Therefore, consider buying upright vacuum cleaners featuring this highly efficient filtration component. If this filtration system has more layers, that’s even better as more filtration layers translate to improved filtration efficiency.
The Dust Cup Size
The dust cup collects all the dirt and dust particles your upright vacuum cleaner picks up from the cleaned surfaces. As such, it is another crucial component of a vacuum cleaner.
And you want to check it before buying any vacuum cleaner. What you want to do is look for a cleaning machine with a large dust cup.
A large dust cup doesn’t fill up quickly. As a result, emptying such a large dust cup into a dustbin after filling up with dust particles is less frequent.
Since a vacuum cleaner cleans with reduced power when the dust cup is full, you can expect to clean at the vacuum cleaner’s full potential for extended periods if the dust cup is large.
But how large should the dust cup of your preferred vacuum cleaner be? Well, if an upright vacuum cleaner has a 1.3-quart dust cup or a larger dust cup, consider buying it.
You will probably clean an entire house without such a dust cup filling up. And this means cleaning at the vacuum cleaner’s full power for a sparkling home environment. Therefore, consider buying upright vacuums with large dust cups.
Cleaning Accessories
Besides cleaning your hard floors and carpets, an upright vacuum cleaner could also clean furniture, tight spaces, and stairs. But this is only possible if it includes the correct cleaning attachments.
You will have to buy an upright vacuum cleaner with the surfaces you intend to clean in mind.
If you’re looking to clean your furniture, ensure your preferred vacuum cleaner includes an upholstery tool. If you’re looking to clean tight spaces between the sofa cushions, a crevice tool should be among the included cleaning attachments.
Other cleaning attachments to consider having are a dusting brush and a combination tool.
Ensure your upright vacuum converts into a handheld vacuum since these cleaning attachments work best when using a handheld vacuum.
Looking for a versatile cleaning machine is essential if you want a multi-surface cleaning performance. Therefore, buy a versatile upright vacuum cleaner.
Weight Of the Unit
A vacuum cleaner with a lightweight design is effortless to move across the room and from one room to another. Also, maneuvering between furniture in a room is a lot easier if your upright vacuum cleaner is lightweight.
Therefore, consider buying a light upright vacuum. If your preferred vacuum cleaner weighs no more than 15 pounds, it is a lightweight vacuum, and consider buying it.
Maneuverability
You also want to pick an upright vacuum cleaner that excellently maneuvers between furniture and around obstacles when buying a cleaning machine.
But maneuverability depends on swivel steering. A vacuum cleaner that swivels through 180° horizontally and 90° vertically boasts excellent maneuverability.
As such, consider buying upright vacuums that swivel this way for unmatched maneuverability and cleaning results.
Noise Level
Buying the best upright vacuum cleaner also means buying an ultra-quiet cleaning machine. Besides, noise could disrupt your baby’s peaceful nap.
As such, you want to consider the noise level of an upright vacuum cleaner before buying it. If the noise level is below 70 decibels, consider buying the vacuum cleaner for quiet cleaning performance.
LED Lights
Sometimes, your cleaning takes you to rooms with insufficient natural light. In such situations, LED lights could illuminate the way. And this could improve the cleaning efficiency.
The good news is that some upright vacuum cleaners feature LED lights on their floor cleaner heads. Consider buying these vacuum cleaners if you anticipate cleaning rooms with insufficient natural light.
FAQs
Do upright vacuum cleaners work on marble floors?
Yes, an upright vacuum cleaner will clean marble floors if it’s for cleaning such delicate surfaces. Not any vacuum cleaner will yield spectacular cleaning results.
As such, you want to invest in the best vacuum cleaner for marble floors. A few upright vacuums clean marble floors spectacularly. One such cleaning machine is the Shark Vertex DuoClean vacuum cleaner.
Therefore, consider buying an upright vacuum cleaner for marble floors if you intend to clean your marble floor.
What’s the durability of an upright vacuum cleaner?
Buying an upright vacuum cleaner is a life-changing decision since it could lead to a cleaner home. But upright vacuums are like other electrical appliances or machines as they also have a given shelf life.
That means they give you exceptional performance for a given period before they begin having problems.
Usually, your upright vacuum cleaner lasts for 8 years. But this period could go beyond 8 years if you care for your cleaning machine well. So, you want to store your vacuum cleaner properly after using it.
Also, you want to replace the filters after six months to extend the life of your cleaning machine. Care for your vacuum cleaner, and it will last for more than a decade.
Can a vacuum cleaner run on electricity from a generator?
Yes, a generator that’s powerful enough can power an upright vacuum cleaner, allowing you to clean your residential space. If the generator produces at least 3,000 Watts of electricity, it can power any upright vacuum cleaner.
Handheld vacuum cleaners require even fewer watts to function, usually 500 watts.
Cordless upright vacuums will require 1,400 Watts of electricity to charge their batteries. A generator could be a lifesaver when there is a power outage.
So, consider investing in a generator to clean your residence even during a blackout.
Can I clean above-floor areas with my upright vacuum cleaner?
Many upright vacuum cleaners have detachable wands with at least 10-ft reach. As such, the wands could reach the ceiling to suck up dirt from the ceiling, leaving it dust-free.
You can also attach an upholstery tool to the wand to clean furniture. A crevice tool also fits on the wand to clean tight spaces between sofa cushions. Therefore, an upright vacuum cleaner is versatile to clean all above-floor surfaces such as stairs and the ceiling.
Wrap Up
You will need an upright vacuum cleaner to remove dirt, dust particles, pet hair, and allergens from your carpet and hard floor. As such, an upright vacuum cleaner is an investment worth considering.
But finding the best upright vacuum cleaner depends on checking for a few features.
Fortunately, you’re in a better position to choose the best upright vacuum cleaner after reading our buyer’s guide. We’ve also rounded up some of the best upright vacuums to buy.
But we didn’t stop there since we also asked some of the questions you might have. Therefore, we hope we’ve answered some of the crucial questions surrounding upright vacuums.
Invest in the best upright vacuum cleaner and give your residential space the thorough cleaning it rightfully deserves.
